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Valpuesta, Pedro de
(b Burgos de Osma, Soria, 1614; d Madrid, 1688). Spanish painter. Like many other Spanish Baroque painters, Valpuesta was also a priest. He was active in both capacities in Madrid during the second third of the 17th century. He was a disciple of the Madrid painter Eugenio Cajés (see CAJÉS, (2)) and followed his style closely. Palomino mentioned numerous paintings by Valpuesta in various churches in Madrid. These have not been identified for lack of signatures and only three works are known. St Ignatius of Loyola, signed and dated 1658, belongs to the Hospital de Antezana in Alcalá de Henares. It is a conventional, frontal portrait representing the saint full-length in a stiff and inexpressive pose. The effect of perspective developed in the background architecture is the most striking feature of the work. Four episodes from the life of the saint are represented in small-scale pictures on the side panels of the painting. The other two known works by Valpuesta are Philip V Swearing to Defend the Immaculate Conception (c. 1661; Madrid, Mus. Mun.) and the Virgin Presenting the Rule to the Founder of the Convento de la Latina (Madrid, Convento de la Latina).
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